Do You Need a Root Canal? Symptoms to Look Out For

When a tooth starts to ache, it’s tempting to reach for painkillers and to try to ignore the problem for a while to see if it goes away. However, a toothache in Whitby can be a sign of an infection that will not clear up using home remedies.

If you’ve noticed a tooth feels uncomfortable, it’s a sign it needs professional dental care in Oshawa. It’s better to book an appointment with Margolian Dentistry to get a proper diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

We can gently examine the tooth, relieve pain, and provide suitable treatment quickly.

What Can Cause a Tooth Infection?

Significant tooth decay or a failing, crumbling filling can cause an infection that penetrates deep inside the tooth. A tooth infection is caused by bacteria found in dental plaque, a sticky biofilm that continually forms over everyone’s teeth.

Sometimes, even a seemingly insignificant crack in a tooth can open up every time you bite down, allowing these bacteria to penetrate deep within the tooth. When this occurs, the infection can’t reach the dental pulp, which is located in the central part of the tooth.

Your dental pulp is a collection of nerves, blood vessels and connective tissues, and these tissues extend into the root canals in your tooth roots. If they become infected, inflammation occurs, causing these tissues to swell and increasing pressure inside the tooth, leading to severe pain.

What Is a Root Canal?

Root canal therapy in Ajax is a straightforward procedure that removes the infected dental pulp and all the tissues extending into your root canals. Once removed, these canals are carefully shaped and disinfected, and the tooth is permanently sealed.

Usually, a dental crown is needed to restore the tooth, as it is likely more fragile and may have lost much of its original structure. The crown will prevent further infection and decay.

Root canal treatment is entirely painless and will quickly relieve a toothache. It shouldn’t feel any worse than having a filling, but it is a more advanced technique that takes longer to complete.

A tooth that has received root canal therapy can last for years, or potentially a lifetime.

Signs That You May Need a Root Canal

Signs of a tooth infection can include the following.

• Toothache

This is the most common sign that something is wrong with the tooth, and it cannot go away without professional dental care. A toothache can be continuous or only present when you bite down.

Leaving an untreated toothache can allow it to progress, potentially forming a dental abscess that can become extremely serious and result in tooth loss.

• Tooth Sensitivity

Have you noticed that your teeth hurt or feel sensitive when you eat or drink anything hot or cold, or when you try to enjoy anything very sweet or sour?

This may not indicate a tooth infection, but it is a symptom that requires a proper diagnosis by our dentist. If you have a tooth infection, it’s always best to try to catch it early.

• Tooth Discolouration

When a dental pulp becomes infected and inflamed, it can eventually die, leading to tissue decay and a tooth that looks increasingly discoloured. This discolouration can look black or grey.

• Swollen Gums

The gum around the affected tooth may become red and swollen. It might feel tender if you touch it, and it is more likely to bleed easily.

If the infection has spread, it can cause a pimple on your gum, which may be a sign of a dental abscess. The pimple is where pus has started to build up around the tooth root and can cause an unpleasant taste or bad breath.